Input Device For Content Providing Device and Method of Operating the Same

ABSTRACT

An input device for a content providing device and a method of operating the same are provided. The input device includes: a pressure sensor having first pressure pads varying impedance according to contact strength, and periodically generating and outputting first pressure data having values corresponding to impedance of each of the first pressure pads; a button information generator for generating and outputting button information corresponding to the first pressure pad having the largest pressure data, when receiving the first pressure data; a pointing information generator for obtaining a position value of the first pressure pad having the largest pressure data when receiving the first pressure data, comparing the position value with the previously obtained position value to calculate a movement value of a contact position, and generating and outputting pointing information having the calculated movement value; and an operation selection unit for transmitting the first pressure data to the button information generator when the first pressure data transmitted from the pressure sensor is different from the previously obtained data and has a value larger than a button input value, and transmitting the first pressure data to the pointing information generator when the first pressure data transmitted from the pressure sensor is different from the previously obtained data and has value smaller than a pointing input value. Therefore, it is possible to perform various kinds of input operations using a single input device

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a content providing device, and moreparticularly, to an input device for a content providing device and amethod of operating the same that are capable of detecting various kindsof input operations using a plurality of input sensors or a plurality ofcontact sensors.

BACKGROUND ART

A content providing device may be referred to as a portable device suchas a mobile phone, an MP3 player, a PMP player, an electronicdictionary, or the like, capable of storing content information andoutputting the content information through a display device or an audiodevice in response to a user's request.

While a conventional content providing device can store small contentinformation and display the stored content information in a simpledisplay manner only, a state-of-the-art content providing device canstore and display content information with the same level as a desktopcomputer.

Therefore, the content providing device may include various kinds ofinput devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, similar to the desktopcomputer. However, since the content providing device should have goodmobility features, it is difficult to install a large number or size ofinput devices in the content providing device.

Referring to FIG. 1, Korean Patent Application No. 2005-114414 disclosesa pressure sensor including a pressure pad 161, an input signalgenerator 140, a reference signal generator 150, a pressure signalgenerator 160, and a pressure data generator 170 to detect contactstrength (or pressure strength) with respect to a pressure pad.

In addition, referring to FIG. 2, Korean Patent Application No.2005-23382 discloses a contact sensor including a reference signalgenerator 10, a first signal generator 21, a second signal generator 22,a contact signal generator 30, and a filter 40 to detect a contact of acontact pad.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In order to solve the problem, the present invention provides an inputdevice for a content providing device capable of performing variousinput operations and maintaining the size of the input device using aplurality of input sensors and contact sensors, thereby remarkablyreducing the number of input buttons, which should be included in thecontent providing device.

The present invention also provides a method of operating an inputdevice for a content providing device capable of performing variousinput operations and maintaining the kind and size of the input deviceusing a plurality of input sensors and contact sensors.

Technical Solution

In accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided an input device for a content providingdevice including: a pressure sensor having first pressure pads varyingimpedance according to contact strength, and periodically generating andoutputting first pressure data having values corresponding to impedanceof each of the first pressure pads; a button information generator forgenerating and outputting button information corresponding to the firstpressure pad having the largest pressure data, when receiving the firstpressure data; a pointing information generator for obtaining a positionvalue of the first pressure pad having the largest pressure data whenreceiving the first pressure data, comparing the position value with thepreviously obtained position value to calculate a movement value of acontact position, and generating and outputting pointing informationhaving the calculated movement value; and an operation selection unitfor transmitting the first pressure data to the button informationgenerator when the first pressure data transmitted from the pressuresensor is different from the previously obtained data and has a valuelarger than a button input value, and transmitting the first pressuredata to the pointing information generator when the first pressure datatransmitted from the pressure sensor is different from the previouslyobtained data and has value smaller than a pointing input value.

In accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided a content providing device including: auser input unit having first pressure pads varying impedance accordingto contact strength, and generating button information or pointinginformation according to user's contact strength with respect to thefirst pressure pads; and a controller for performing, when the buttoninformation is received, a data selection operation in response to thebutton information, determining a content display mode when the pointinginformation is received, scrolling a screen in response to the pointinginformation when the display mode is a scroll mode, and moving a cursordisplayed on the screen in response to the pointing information when acursor moving mode.

In accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided a content providing device including: auser input unit having a plurality of key buttons and a plurality ofcontact sensors, and generating a plurality of button information and aplurality of contact signals; a contact sensor controller forrecognizing a contact position or a contact position moving direction inresponse to the plurality of contact signals, generating scrollinformation corresponding to the contact position or the contactposition moving direction in a scroll mode, and generating cursor movinginformation corresponding to the contact position in a cursor movingmode; and a main controller for setting a display mode according to adisplay type of content, scrolling a screen in response to the scrollinformation generated by the contact sensor controller in the scrollmode, and moving a cursor displayed on the screen in response to thecursor moving information generated by the contact sensor controller inthe cursor moving mode.

In accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided a method of operating an input device for acontent providing device having first and second pressure pads disposedon a keypad and varying impedance according to contact strength of auser, the method including: a pressure data generating step ofperiodically generating a plurality of first pressure data having valuescorresponding to impedance of each of the first pressure pads; adetermination step of determining whether at least one first pressuredata has a value larger than a button input value when a newly obtainedfirst pressure data is different from the previously obtained firstpressure data; a button information generating step of obtaining thefirst pressure pad having the largest first pressure data, andgenerating and outputting button information corresponding to theobtained first pressure pad, when the at least one first pressure datahas a value larger than the button input value as a result of thedetermination; and a pointing information step of obtaining a positionvalue of the first pressure pad having the largest first pressure data,comparing the position value with the previously obtained position valueto calculate a movement value of a contact position, and generating andoutputting pointing information having the calculated movement value,when all of the first pressure data have values not more than thepointing input value as a result of the determination.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

As can be seen from the foregoing, an input device in accordance withthe present invention can perform various input operations using aplurality of pressure sensors or a plurality of contact sensors, therebyremarkably increasing applicability of the input device. Therefore, acontent providing device including the input device in accordance withthe present invention can detect more various input operations through asingle input device, thereby enabling a user to readily search andselect data.

In addition, the input device in accordance with the present inventioncan replace a plurality of key buttons with a plurality of pressuresensors, or dispose a plurality of contact sensors on the plurality ofkey buttons or remaining regions except the key buttons, withoutincreasing size of the input device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional pressure sensor;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional contact sensor;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an input device in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing position values of respective pressure padsof the input device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are a diagram illustrating the operation of a pointinginformation generator of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating the inputdevice of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a content providing device having the inputdevice of FIG. 3 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are is a diagram illustrating a display mode of thecontent providing device of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 to FIG. 15 show external appearances of an input device havingthe contact sensors of FIG. 2 in accordance with an exemplary embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 16 shows an external appearance of an input device having thecontact sensors of FIG. 2 in accordance with another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a content providing device having theinput device of FIG. 11 to FIG. 15 in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a contact sensorcontroller of FIG. 11 to FIG. 15; and

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the contentproviding device of FIG. 17.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of an input device for a content providing deviceand a method of operating the same according to the present inventionwill now be described in detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an input device in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, and the input device ofFIG. 3 is implemented using the pressure sensor of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, the input device of the present invention includesa keypad 210 having a plurality of pressure pads p0˜p9, p*, p#, pu, andpl, an operation detector 220 having a plurality of pressure datagenerators 221˜22 n corresponding to the plurality of pressure padsp0˜p9, p*, p#, pu, and pl, an operation selection unit 230, a settinginformation generator 240, a button information generator 250, and apointing information generator 260.

The keypad 210 includes the plurality of pressure pads p0˜p9, p*, andp#, (hereinafter, referred to as common pads) for simultaneouslyperforming a button function and a pointing function, and the pluralityof pressure pads pu, and pl (hereinafter, referred to as setting pads)for performing a setting function. In this process, each of theplurality of common pads p0˜p9, p*, and p# and the plurality of settingpads pu, and pl varies impedance according to contact strength of auser.

The operation detector 220 includes the plurality of pressure datagenerators 221˜22 n respectively corresponding to the plurality ofcommon pads and setting pads p0˜p9, p*, p#, pu, and pl. In this process,each of the pressure data generators 221˜22 n periodically obtainsimpedance of the corresponding common pad or setting pad p0˜p9, p*, p#,pu, or pl according to a sampling cycle, and generates and outputs apressure data having a value corresponding to the obtained impedance.

At this time, the pressure pad p0 of the present invention isimplemented as the pad 161 in FIG. 1, and the pressure data generator221 is implemented as the input signal generator 140, the referencesignal generator 150, the pressure signal generator 160, and thepressure data generator 170. That is, a pair of the pressure pad p0 andthe pressure data generator 221 constitutes a pressure sensor of FIG. 1.

The operation selection unit 230 analyzes the pressure data of thecommon pads periodically transmitted and selects transmission path ofthe pressure data. That is, when a newly received pressure data isdifferent from the previously received pressure data and at least onepressure data has a value larger than the button input value, theoperation selection unit 230 transmits the newly received pressure datato the button information generator 250. When the newly receivedpressure data is different from the previously received pressure dataand all of the pressure data have values smaller than pointing inputvalue, the operation selection unit 230 transmits the newly receivedpressure data to the pointing information generator 260. On the otherhand, when the newly received pressure data is equal to the previouslyreceived pressure data, the operation selection unit 230 determines thata user maintains the previous contact state at it is, and transmits nodata to the button information generator 250 and the pointinginformation generator 260.

At this time, the button input value and the pointing input value arereference values for determining whether the common pad is to be used asa button or a pointing device, which can be set depending on a user;sneed, under the condition that the button input value is larger than thepointing input value.

The setting information generator 240 obtains the second pressure padthat generates different second pressure data when pressure data ofsetting pad pu or pl having a different value from the previous pressuredata is received from the operation detector 220, and generates andoutputs setting information corresponding to the obtained secondpressure pad and a pressure data value of the obtained second pressurepad.

While the above embodiment describes two setting pads, if necessary,such setting pads may be added in various ways.

The button information generator 250 stores button informationrespectively corresponding to the plurality of position values of eachcommon pad p0˜p9, p* and p#. When the plurality of pressure data arereceived from the operation selection unit 230, the button informationgenerator 250 obtains the common pad having the largest pressure data asa contact pad contacted by the user, and generates button informationcorresponding to the contact pad.

The pointing information generator 260 sets and stores position valuesof the plurality of common pads p0˜p9, p* and p# on the basis of amapping relationship shown in FIG. 4. When the plurality of pressuredata are continuously received within a moving detection time, thepointing information generator 260 sets the common pad having thelargest pressure data as a contact pad contacted by the user to obtainits position value, compares the position value and the previouslyobtained position value to calculate a movement value of the contactposition, and generates pointing information having the calculatedmovement value.

At this time, the moving detection time is a maximum time that a usershould move contact positions of the plurality of pressure sensors inorder to perform pointing operation, which can be set according to auser s need.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method of generatingpointing information of a pointing information generator 260 inaccordance with the present invention.

The pointing information generator 260 sets a common pad having thelargest pressure data as a contact pad and obtains its position value,when the pressure data of the plurality of common pads p0˜p9, p* and p#are received. When the position values of the contact pads arecontinuously obtained within the moving detection time, the pointinginformation generator 260 compares a currently obtained position valuewith a previously obtained position value to calculate a movement valueof the contact position, and generates pointing information having thecalculated movement value.

When the currently obtained position value is (x, y) and the previouslyobtained position value is (x0, y0), the movement value of the contactposition is calculated using “formula (x−x0, y−y0)”

For example, when a user continuously contacts the common pads p2, p5,p8 and p0 which are disposed in a line as shown in FIG. 5, the pointinginformation generator 260 continuously obtains position values (1, 3),(1, 2), (1, 1), and (1, 0) of the contact pads within the movementdetection time. Then the pointing information generator 260 generates amovement value (0, −1) when the contact point moves from p2 to p5, fromp5 to p8, and from p8 to p0. That is, pointing information having themovement values (0, −1) is continuously generated.

On the other hand, when the pointing information generator 260 does notobtain a new position value until the movement detection time elapses, apointing operation is terminated, and pointing information is notgenerated.

For example, when a user continuously contacts the straightly disposedcommon pads p2, p5 and p8 within the movement detection time, and thenmaintains the contact with the common pad p8 until the movementdetection time elapses, the pointing information generator 260 generatespointing information having the movement value (0, −1) only when thecontact point moves from p2 to p5 and from p5 to p8, and generates nopointing information when the contact point maintains p8.

However, when the user continuously contacts the common pads p8 and p0and obtains a new position value within the movement detection time, thepointing information generator 260 newly generates and outputs pointinginformation having the movement value (0, −1).

In addition, the pointing information generator 260 previously sets amovement correction value on the basis of a relationship between thecommon pads p1, p2, p3, p4, p6, p7, p9, p*, p0 and p# disposed on theperiphery of the keypad. Therefore, when a user repeatedly contacts thecommon pads disposed in a line on the periphery of the keypad whilemaintaining the same directionality, the pointing information generator260 continuously generates pointing information having the samedirectionality.

When the input device includes common pads disposed in an n×m matrix,the pointing information generator 260 sets a movement correction valueby adding n when an x-axis movement value of a contact position islarger than an x-axis movement limit value, i.e., (n-1), and adding mwhen a y-axis movement value of a contact position is larger than ay-axis movement limit value, i.e., (m-1).

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when a user continuously contacts thecommon pads p2, p5, p8 and p0 having position values (1, 3), (1, 2), (1,1), and (1, 0) and disposed in a line between upper and lower ends ofthe keypad, and then continuously contacts the common pads p2, p5, p8and p0 repeatedly, the contact position of the user is abruptly changedfrom the lower end to the upper end (from p0 to p2). In this case, thepointing information generator 260 calculates a movement value of thissection as (0, −3), and adjusts the movement value using a movementcorrection value, thereby finally obtaining the movement value (0, −1).Consequently, the pointing information generator 260 continuouslygenerates only the pointing information having the movement value (0,−1).

A method of operating an input device in accordance with the presentinvention will now be described with reference to FIG. 7.

An operation detector 220 newly obtains a plurality of pressure datarespectively corresponding to a plurality of common pads and settingpads p0˜p9, p*, p#, pu and pl according to a sampling cycle. Then, theoperation detector 220 transmits the pressure data of the plurality ofcommon pads p0˜p9, p* and p# to an operation selection unit 230, andtransmits the pressure data of the plurality of setting pads pu and plto a setting information generator 240 (S1).

The setting information generator 240 determines whether the newlyreceived pressure data of the plurality of setting pads are differentfrom the previously received pressure data of the plurality of settingpads (S2). As a result of the determination of step S2, when the newlyreceived pressure data of the plurality of setting pads are differentfrom the previously received pressure data of the plurality of settingpads, the setting information generator 240 generates the pressure datahaving values different from the previous pressure value and settinginformation corresponding to the setting pads having the pressure data,and outputs the pressure data and the setting information to a main bodyof a content providing device (S3).

At the same time, the operation selection unit 230 also determineswhether the newly received pressure data of the plurality of common padsare different from the previously received pressure data of theplurality of common pads (S4).

As a result of the determination of S4, when the newly received pressuredata of the plurality of common pads are the same as the previouslyreceived pressure data of the plurality of common pads, the operationselection unit 230 determines that a user does not contact any pad ormaintains the previous contact, and returns to step S1 to obtain newpressure data.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination of S4, when thenewly received pressure data of the plurality of common pads aredifferent from the previously received pressure data of the plurality ofcommon pads, the operation selection unit 230 compares the newlyreceived pressure data of the plurality of common pads with button inputvalues and pointing input values, respectively (S5).

As a result of the comparison of step S5, when at least one pressuredata is larger than the button input value, the operation selection unit230 determines that the user uses the common pads as buttons, sets anoperation mode of the input device as a button mode, and then transmitsthe newly received pressure data to a button information generator 250(S6). The button information generator 250 obtains a common pad havingthe largest pressure data as a common pad contacted by a user, and thengenerates button information corresponding to the obtained common pad(S7).

On the other hand, as a result of the comparison of step S5, when all ofthe pressure data are smaller than the pointing input value, theoperation selection unit 230 sets an operation mode of the input deviceas a cursor moving mode, and transmits the newly received pressure datato a pointing information generator 260 (S8). The pointing informationgenerator 260 obtains a common pad having the largest pressure data as acommon pad contacted by the user, and obtains its position value (S9).

In addition, the pointing information generator 260 determines againwhether a new position value is obtained within the movement detectiontime, in order to determine whether the current pointing operation is anormal pointing operation (S10).

As a result of the determination of step S10, when the new positionvalue is obtained within the movement detection time, the pointinginformation generator 260 determines that the current pointing operationis normal, compares the new position value with the previous positionvalue through step S9 to calculate a movement value of a contactposition (S11), and generates pointing information having the calculatedmovement value (S12).

On the other hand, as a result of the determination of step S10, whenthe new position value is not obtained within the movement detectiontime, the pointing information generator 260 determines that the currentpointing operation is abnormal, and does not generate any pointinginformation (S13).

After generating the setting information, the button information, andthe pointing information through the above steps, the input devicerepeatedly performs steps S1 to S3 to newly obtain pressure data of theplurality of common pads and setting pads p0˜p9, p*, p#, pu and p1, andthus continuously generates setting information, button information, andpointing information.

As described above, the input device in accordance with the presentinvention includes a plurality of pressure pads to detect various inputoperations and generate various input information.

While the above input device of the present invention includes thecommon pads and the setting pads separated from each other, ifnecessary, a single pressure pad may simultaneously perform functions ofa common pad and a setting pad.

For this purpose, the operation selection unit 230 sets a predeterminednumber of pads p2, p8, p4 and p6, among the plurality of common padsp0˜p9, p* and p#, as combined-use pads. When at least one of the inputdata of the combined-use pads p2, p8, p4 and p6 is larger than thepointing input value and smaller than the button input value, theoperation selection unit 230 transmits the input data of thecombined-use pads p2, p8, p4 and p6 to the setting information generator240. When the input data of the combined-use pads p2, p8, p4 and p6 arereceived from the operation selection unit 230, the setting informationgenerator 240 obtains the combined-use pads generating a value differentfrom the previous value, and then generates setting informationcorresponding to the pressure data of the combined-use pad and theobtained combined-use pad and outputs the setting information.

For example, when a user continuously contacts a predetermined number ofcommon pads with a contact strength smaller than the pointing inputstrength, the pointing information generator 260 continuously generatespointing information. When the user contacts one of the combined-usepads p2, p8, p4 and p6 with a contact strength larger than the pointinginput strength and smaller than the button input strength, the settinginformation generator 240 generates setting information for adjustingscroll speed of a direction corresponding to the contacted pad.

Therefore, the input device of the present invention can generate thepointing information through the plurality of common pads p0˜p9, p* andp#, and simultaneously generate the setting information for adjustingscroll speed of horizontal and vertical directions through thecombined-use pads p2, p8, p4 and p6.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a content providing device having the inputdevice of FIG. 3. For the convenience of description, a contentproviding device implemented as a mobile phone will be described.

Referring to FIG. 8, a mobile phone includes a user input unit 200implemented as the input device shown in FIG. 3, a main controller 300,a memory 400, and a data output unit 500 having a monitor 510 and aspeaker 520.

In the user input unit 200, a plurality of common pads are installed ata conventional mobile terminal, the common pads are disposed in the samearray as general buttons (number buttons, a call button, a call-endbutton, and so on). Setting pads are disposed in the same array asconventional setting buttons (a volume adjustment button, a screenbrightness adjustment button, and so on). Therefore, the user input unit200 generates button information, pointing information, or settinginformation and outputs it to a main controller 300 depending on thekind and contact manner of the pads contacted by a user.

The main controller 300 detects input operation of the user using thesetting information, the button information, or the pointing informationtransmitted from the user input unit 200, and performs a settingoperation, a data selecting operation, or a pointing operationcorresponding thereto, thereby performing a basic call operation or acontent providing operation. Specifically, the main controller 300determines a current display mode when pointing information is receivedduring display of content information. When the current display mode isa scroll mode, the main controller 300 performs a scroll operation inresponse to the pointing information to vertically or horizontallyscroll a screen, and when a cursor moving mode, the main controller 300performs a cursor moving operation in response to the pointinginformation to move the position of a cursor.

For example, when the main controller 300 receives volume settinginformation for adjusting volume of the content providing device fromthe user input device 200, the main controller 300 performs apredetermined setting operation to adjust the volume of the contentproviding device to a predetermined value. When the main controller 300receives button information for selecting a number “0” the maincontroller 300 performs a data selecting operation corresponding to thenumber “0” to obtain the number “0” as pressure data, and simultaneouslydisplay the number “0” on the screen such that the user confirms thatthe desired number is selected. In addition, when the pointinginformation is input, the main controller 300 first determines thecurrent display mode, scrolls the screen in a direction corresponding tothe pointing information in the case of the scroll mode, and positionsthe cursor at a specific position corresponding to the pointinginformation in the case of the cursor moving mode.

At this time, the scroll mode is a mode that content information to beselected is displayed in a vertical direction as shown in FIG. 9, andthe cursor moving mode is a mode that content information to be selectedis displayed in vertical and horizontal directions as shown in FIG. 10and a position of the cursor (i.e., a data selection position) is alsomovable in vertical and horizontal directions. Of course, the maincontroller 300 may set the scroll mode and the cursor moving mode usingvarious methods, and thus, content display methods may also be set invarious manners.

The memory 400 stores data for providing various programs, menu, andcontents required to perform a call operation and a content providingoperation of a mobile phone. The monitor 510 of the data output unit 500converts data transmitted from the main controller 300 under controlthereof into user-recognizable characters or figures, and displays themon the screen. The speaker 520 of the data output unit 500 converts thedata transmitted from the main controller 300 under control thereof intouser-recognizable sound, and outputs the sound.

Therefore, the content providing device shown in FIG. 8 includes theinput device 200 for providing button information or pointinginformation depending on contact strength of a user so that the user canreadily search and select content information stored in the contentproviding device in various manners.

As described above, a content providing device in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an input devicehaving a plurality of input sensors so that the input device can detectmore various input operations to provide various kinds of information,without increasing the kind and size of the input device.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 11 to FIG. 15, an input device inaccordance with the present invention includes a plurality of keybuttons and contact sensors to provide the same function and effect asthe input device shown in FIGS. 3,9 and 10.

Referring to FIG. 17 to FIG. 15, although the plurality of key buttonsare disposed in a matrix similar to the conventional art, the pluralityof contact sensors may be disposed on remaining regions, except theregions where the plurality of key buttons are disposed, or on surfacesof the plurality of key buttons in various arrays.

In FIG. 11 to FIG. 15, the regions where the contact sensors aredisposed are illustrated as dotted regions.

In FIG. 11, the plurality of contact sensors are disposed in a matrix onthe remaining regions except the regions where the plurality of keybuttons are disposed, and in FIG. 12, the plurality of contact sensorsare disposed in a cross on the remaining regions. In FIG. 13, theplurality of contact sensors are disposed in a line on the remainingregions, in FIG. 14 the plurality of contact sensors are disposed in acircle on the remaining regions, and in FIG. 15, the plurality ofcontact sensors are disposed on the surfaces of the key buttons.

As described above, an input device in accordance with the presentinvention includes a plurality of contact sensors disposed on key padregions or surfaces of key buttons so that the input device can have aplurality of contact sensors as well as the plurality of key buttons,without increasing the size of the input device.

That is, it is possible to detect various input operations to receivevarious kinds of information, without increasing the kind and size ofthe input device.

While FIG. 11 to FIG. 15 illustrate the plurality of contact sensorsdisposed on the keypad, the contact pads may be disposed a region (forexample, a peripheral region of a speaker) other than the keypad, asshown in FIG. 16, depending on product characteristics of the contentproviding device, according to the same manner as FIG. 11 to FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a content providing device having theinput device of FIG. 11 to FIG. 15 in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 17, the input device includes a user input unit 600, acontact sensor controller 610, a main controller 620, a memory 400, anda data output unit 500 having a monitor 510 and a speaker 520, therebydisplaying contents in the scroll mode shown in FIG. 9, or the cursormoving mode shown in FIG. 10, similar to the content driving deviceshown in FIG. 8.

The user input unit 600 includes a plurality of key buttons KB1˜KBn anda plurality of contact sensors TS1˜TSn disposed as shown in FIG. 11 toFIG. 15. When each of the key buttons KB1˜KBn is pushed by a user, theuser input unit 600 detects the pushed key button to generate buttoninformation, and transmits the button information to the main controller620. When each of the contact sensors TS1˜TSn is contacted by a user,the user input device 600 detects the contacted sensor to generate acontact signal, and transmits the contact signal to the contact sensorcontroller 610. At this time, the contact sensor is implemented as thecontact sensor shown in FIG. 2.

The contact sensor controller 610 sets and stores each position valueand contact position of the plurality of contact sensors TS1˜TSn, or ascroll direction and a cursor moving position corresponding to a movingdirection of the contact position, analyzes a plurality of contactsignals transmitted from the plurality of contact sensors TS1˜TSn, andobtains a current contact position or a moving direction of the contactposition. In addition, when a display mode of the main controller 620 isa scroll mode, the contact sensor controller 610 generates scrollinformation having the obtained contact position or information of ascroll direction corresponding to the contact position to output thescroll information to the main controller 620, and when a cursor movingmode, the contact sensor controller 610 generates cursor movinginformation having information about a cursor moving position and thenoutputs the cursor moving information to the main controller 620.

For example, when a user continuously contacts the plurality of contactsensors in the direction of arrow shown in FIG. 18 during the scrollmode, the contact sensor controller 610 detects the contact using aplurality of contact signals, and generates scroll information forscrolling a screen in the direction of an arrow. On the other hand, whenthe user contacts the plurality of contact sensors disposed in an Aregion in FIG. 18 during the cursor moving mode, the contact sensorcontroller 610 detects the contact using a plurality of contact signals,and generates cursor moving information which enables a cursor displayedon a screen to move to a specific position corresponding to the Aregion.

In addition, the contact sensor controller 610 further includes a dataselection condition for directly selecting data displayed on a specificposition of the screen. When a plurality of contact signals forsatisfying the data selection condition are transmitted, the contactsensor controller 610 generates data selection information for selectingdata displayed on a specific position of the screen.

For example, under the condition that the same region (for example, theA region in FIG. 18) contacts twice, when a user contacts the A regiontwice, the contact sensor controller 610 detects the contact using aplurality of contact signals, and generates data selection informationfor selecting data displayed on a specific position of the screencorresponding to the A region.

In addition, the contact sensor controller 610 can reset each positionvalue, contact position or scroll direction corresponding to a movingdirection of the contact position, cursor moving position, and dataselection condition of the plurality of contact sensors TS1˜TSn,according to a user's need.

The main controller 620 controls the entire operation of the contentproviding device, and provides content in response to a user's request.In particular, the main controller 620 determines a current display modeto inform the determined display mode to the contact sensor controller610 during the display of the content information. Then, in the case ofa scroll mode, the main controller 620 receives scroll information fromthe contact sensor controller 610 to perform a scroll operation. In thecase of a cursor moving mode, the main controller 620 receives cursormoving information from the contact sensor controller 610 to perform acursor moving operation. In addition, when data selection information isprovided from the contact sensor controller 610, regardless of thedisplay mode, the main controller 620 performs a data selectionoperation in response to the data selection information to select datadisplayed on a specific position of a screen.

The memory 400 stores data for providing various programs, menus, andcontents that can control and perform the entire operation of thecontent providing device. The monitor 510 of the data output unit 500converts data transmitted from the main controller 620 into charactersand figures recognizable by a user, and displays them on the screen,under the control of the main controller 620. The speaker 520 of thedata output unit 500 converts the data transmitted from the maincontroller 620 into sounds recognizable by a user, and outputs thesounds.

The operation of a content providing device in accordance with thepresent invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 19.

First, when a user selects data to be displayed, a main controller 620displays the data, and simultaneously sets a display mode of a contentproviding device depending on a display type of the data (S31).

When the display mode of the content providing device is set as a scrollmode by step S31 (S32), the main controller 620 informs to the contactsensor controller 610 that the display mode of the content providingdevice is the scroll mode, and the contact sensor controller 610monitors a user input unit 600 to detect whether contact by a user isgenerated (S33).

In step S33, when the user input unit 600 generates a plurality ofcontact signals by contact of a user, the contact sensor controller 610determines whether the plurality of contact signals satisfy dataselection condition (S34).

As a result of the determination, when the data selection condition isnot satisfied, the contact sensor controller 610 analyzes the pluralityof contact signals to determine a contact position and a contactposition moving direction of the user, and obtains a scroll directioncorresponding to the contact position and the contact position movingdirection of the user, thereby generating scroll information (S35).

Then, the main controller 620 scrolls a screen in response to the scrollinformation generated during step S35 (S36).

On the other hand, as a result of the determination of step S34, whenthe data selection condition is satisfied, the contact sensor controller610 analyzes the plurality of contact signals to determine the contactposition of the user, and generate data selection informationcorresponding to the contact position (S37).

Then, the main controller 620 selects data displayed on a specificposition of a screen corresponding to the contact position (S38), inresponse to the data selection information generated by step S37.

On the other hand, when the display mode of the content providing deviceis set as the cursor moving mode by step S31 (S39), the main controller620 informs to the contact sensor controller 610 that the display modeof the content providing device is the cursor moving mode, and thecontact sensor controller 610 monitors the user input unit 600 to detectwhether contact by a user is generated (S310).

In step S310, when a plurality of contact signals are generated bycontact of the user, the contact sensor controller 610 determineswhether the plurality of contact signals satisfy data selectioncondition (S311), and performs step S37 when the data selectioncondition is satisfied.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination, when the dataselection condition is not satisfied, the contact sensor controller 610analyzes the plurality of contact signals to determine a contactposition of the user, and obtains a cursor moving position correspondingto the contact position of the user, thereby generating cursor movinginformation (S312).

Then, the main controller 620 moves a cursor to a certain position of ascreen corresponding to the contact position of the user (S313), inresponse to the cursor moving information generated by step S312.

Here, one example of the data selection condition is to use a button. InFIG. 9, when one menu bar is selected, the button usually marked as “OK”or “ENTER” is used to select the menu bar.

As described above, the content providing device of FIG. 11 to FIG. 15enables the plurality of contact sensors TS1˜TSn and the contact sensorcontroller 610 to generate scroll information or cursor movinginformation according to an operation mode, thereby performing a scrolloperation or a cursor moving operation in response to the scrollinformation or the cursor moving information.

While the content providing device of the exemplary embodiment canreceive the scroll information and the cursor moving information fromthe input device to perform both of the scroll operation and the cursormoving operation, if necessary, the input device may provide only one ofthe scroll information and the cursor moving information, and thecontent providing device may perform only one of the scroll operationand the cursor moving operation in response to the provided information.

It is natural that contact sensors in FIGS. 11˜19 can be at leastpartially replaced with pressure sensors. And, loops of S33 and S310 inFIG. 19 with no contact generation can be terminated after apre-determined time.

While this invention has been described with reference to exemplaryembodiments thereof, it will be clear to those of ordinary skill in theart that various modifications can be made to the described embodimentswithin the spirit and the scope of the invention set forth in theappended claims.

1. An input device for a content providing device comprising: a pressuresensor having first pressure pads varying impedance according to contactstrength, and periodically generating and outputting first pressure datahaving values corresponding to impedance of each of the first pressurepads; a button information generator for generating and outputtingbutton information corresponding to the first pressure pad having thelargest pressure data, when receiving the first pressure data; apointing information generator for obtaining a position value of thefirst pressure pad having the largest pressure data when receiving thefirst pressure data, comparing the position value with the previouslyobtained position value to calculate a movement value of a contactposition, and generating and outputting pointing information having thecalculated movement value; and an operation selection unit fortransmitting the first pressure data to the button information generatorwhen the first pressure data transmitted from the pressure sensor isdifferent from the previously obtained data and has a value larger thana button input value, and transmitting the first pressure data to thepointing information generator when the first pressure data transmittedfrom the pressure sensor is different from the previously obtained dataand has value smaller than a pointing input value.
 2. The input devicefor a content providing device according to claim 1, wherein thepointing information generator generates the pointing information onlywhen the first pressure data is continuously received within a movementdetection time.
 3. The input device for a content providing deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor comprises: the firstpressure pads disposed on a keypad; and a plurality of first pressuredata generators respectively corresponding to the first pressure pads,and generating first pressure data having a value corresponding to theimpedance of each of the first pressure pads.
 4. The input device for acontent providing device according to claim 3, wherein the pointinginformation generator sets a movement correction value on the basis of arelationship between the first pressure pads disposed on both ends ofthe keypad, corrects the calculated movement value using the movementcorrection value when the calculated movement value is larger than amovement limit value, and generates the pointing information having thecorrected movement value.
 5. The input device for a content providingdevice according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor furthercomprises second pressure pads varying impedance according to contactstrength, and periodically generates second pressure data having a valuecorresponding to impedance of each of the second pressure pads andoutputs the second pressure data.
 6. The input device for a contentproviding device according to claim 3, wherein the pressure sensorfurther comprises: the second pressure pads disposed on the keypad; anda plurality of second pressure data generators respectivelycorresponding to the second pressure pads, and generating secondpressure data having a value corresponding to the impedance of each ofthe second pressure pads.
 7. The input device for a content providingdevice according to claim 5, further comprising a setting informationgenerator that obtains the second pressure pad for generating differentsecond pressure data when second pressure data having a different valuefrom the previous pressure data is received from the pressure sensor,and generates and outputs setting information corresponding to theobtained second pressure pad and a pressure data value of the obtainedsecond pressure pad.
 8. The input device for a content providing deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein the operation selection unit furthercomprises functions of setting a predetermined number of the firstpressure pads as combined-use pads, and transmitting first input data ofthe combined-use pads to the setting information generator when at leastone of the first input data of the combined-use pads is larger than apointing input value and smaller than a button input value, and thesetting information generator further comprises functions of obtainingthe combined-use pad generating a different value from the previousvalue when the first input data of the combined-use pads are receivedfrom the operation selection unit, and generating and outputting settinginformation corresponding to the combined-use pad and a pressure datavalue of the obtained combined-use pad.
 9. A content providing devicecomprising: a user input unit having first pressure pads varyingimpedance according to contact strength, and generating buttoninformation or pointing information according to user's contact strengthwith respect to the first pressure pads; and a controller forperforming, when the button information is received, a data selectionoperation in response to the button information, determining a contentdisplay mode when the pointing information is received, scrolling ascreen in response to the pointing information when the display mode isa scroll mode, and moving a cursor displayed on the screen in responseto the pointing information when a cursor moving mode.
 10. The contentproviding device according to claim 9, wherein the user input unitcomprises: a pressure sensor having the first pressure pads, andperiodically generating and outputting first pressure data having avalue corresponding to impedance of each of the first pressure pads; abutton information generator for generating and outputting buttoninformation corresponding to the first pressure pad having the largestpressure data when receiving the first pressure data; a pointinginformation generator for obtaining a position value of the firstpressure pad having the largest pressure data when receiving the firstpressure data, comparing the position value with the previously obtainedposition value to calculate a movement value of a contact position, andgenerating and outputting pointing information having the calculatedmovement value; and an operation selection unit for transmitting thefirst pressure data to the button information generator when the firstpressure data transmitted from the pressure sensor is different from thepreviously obtained data and has a value larger than a button inputvalue, and transmitting the first pressure data to the pointinginformation generator when the first pressure data transmitted from thepressure sensor is different from the previously obtained data and hasvalue smaller than a pointing input value.
 11. The content providingdevice according to claim 10, wherein the pointing information generatorgenerates the pointing information only when the first pressure data iscontinuously received within a movement detection time.
 12. The contentproviding device according to claim 10, wherein the pressure sensorcomprises: the first pressure pads disposed on a keypad; and a pluralityof pressure data generators corresponding to the first pressure pads,and generating first pressure data having a value corresponding to theimpedance of each of the first pressure pads.
 13. The content providingdevice according to claim 12, wherein the pointing information generatorsets a movement correction value on the basis of a relationship betweenthe first pressure pads disposed on both ends of the user input unit,corrects the calculated movement value using the movement correctionvalue when the calculated movement value is larger than a movement limitvalue, and generates the pointing information having the correctedmovement value.
 14. The content providing device according to claim 10,wherein the pressure sensor further comprises second pressure padsvarying impedance according to contact strength, and periodicallygenerates second pressure data having a value corresponding to theimpedance of each of the second pressure pads and outputs the secondpressure data.
 15. The content providing device according to claim 12,wherein the pressure sensor further comprises: the second pressure padsdisposed on the user input unit; and a plurality of second pressure datagenerators respectively corresponding to the second pressure pads, andgenerating second pressure data having a value corresponding to theimpedance of each of the second pressure pads.
 16. The content providingdevice according to claim 14, wherein an input device for the contentproviding device further comprises a setting information generator whichobtains the second pressure pad for generating different second pressuredata when second pressure data having a different value from theprevious pressure data is received from the pressure sensor, andgenerates and outputs setting information corresponding to the obtainedsecond pressure pad and a pressure data value of the obtained secondpressure pad.
 17. The content providing device according to claim 16,wherein the operation selection unit further comprises functions ofsetting a predetermined number of the first pressure pads ascombined-use pads, and transmitting first input data of the combined-usepads to the setting information generator when at least one of the firstinput data of the combined-use pads is larger than a pointing inputvalue and smaller than a button input value, and the setting informationgenerator further comprises functions of obtaining the combined-use padgenerating a different value from the previous value when first pressuredata of the combined-use pads is received from the operation selectionunit, and generating and outputting setting information corresponding tothe combined-use pad and a pressure data value of the obtainedcombined-use pad.
 18. A content providing terminal comprising: a userinput unit having a plurality of key buttons and a plurality of contactsensors, and generating a plurality of button information and aplurality of contact signals; a contact sensor controller forrecognizing a contact position or a contact position moving direction inresponse to the plurality of contact signals, generating scrollinformation corresponding to the contact position or the contactposition moving direction in a scroll mode, and generating cursor movinginformation corresponding to the contact position in a cursor movingmode; and a main controller for setting a display mode according to adisplay type of content, scrolling a screen in response to the scrollinformation generated by the contact sensor controller in the scrollmode, and moving a cursor displayed on the screen in response to thecursor moving information generated by the contact sensor controller inthe cursor moving mode.
 19. The content providing terminal according toclaim 18, wherein the contact sensor controller further comprises a dataselection condition, and a function of generating data selectioninformation in response to the plurality of contact signals, when theplurality of contact signals satisfying the data selection condition arereceived.
 20. The content providing terminal according to claim 19wherein the main controller further comprises a function of selectingdata displayed on a certain position of the screen, in response to thedata selection information.
 21. The content providing terminal accordingto claim 18, wherein the user input unit comprises the plurality ofcontact sensors disposed in a matrix on remaining regions except theregion on which the plurality of key buttons are disposed.
 22. Thecontent providing terminal according to claim 18, wherein the user inputunit comprises the plurality of contact sensors disposed in a cross onremaining regions except the region on which the plurality of keybuttons are disposed.
 23. The content providing terminal according toclaim 18, wherein the user input unit comprises the plurality of contactsensors disposed in a circle on remaining regions except the region onwhich the plurality of key buttons are disposed.
 24. The contentproviding terminal according to claim 18, wherein the user input unitcomprises the plurality of contact sensors disposed on the plurality ofkey buttons.
 25. The content providing terminal according to claim 18,wherein the user input unit comprises the plurality of contact sensorsdisposed in a line on remaining regions except the region on which theplurality of key buttons are disposed.
 26. The content providingterminal according to claim 18, further comprising a speaker foroutputting sound, and the plurality of contact sensors are disposedaround the speaker.
 27. The content providing terminal according toclaim 18, wherein the user input unit further comprises one or morepressure pads varying impedance according to contact strength togenerate one or more either scroll signals or pointing signalscorresponding to impedance of each of the pressure pads.
 28. A method ofoperating an input device for a content providing device having firstand second pressure pads disposed on a keypad and varying impedanceaccording to contact strength of a user, the method comprising: apressure data generating step of periodically generating a plurality offirst pressure data having values corresponding to impedance of each ofthe first pressure pads; a determination step of determining whether atleast one first pressure data has a value larger than a button inputvalue when a newly obtained first pressure data is different from thepreviously obtained first pressure data; a button information generatingstep of obtaining the first pressure pad having the largest firstpressure data, and generating and outputting button informationcorresponding to the obtained first pressure pad, when the at least onefirst pressure data has a value larger than the button input value as aresult of the determination; and a pointing information step ofobtaining a position value of the first pressure pad having the largestfirst pressure data, comparing the position value with the previouslyobtained position value to calculate a movement value of a contactposition, and generating and outputting pointing information having thecalculated movement value, when all of the first pressure data havevalues not more than the pointing input value as a result of thedetermination.
 29. The method according to claim 28, wherein thepointing information step comprises: a position value obtaining step ofobtaining a position value of the first pressure pad having the largestfirst pressure data, when all of the first pressure data have values notmore than a pointing input value as a result of the determination; atime determination step of determining whether the new position value isobtained within a movement detection time; a movement value calculationstep of calculating a movement value of a contact position by comparingthe new position value with the previous position value, when the newposition value is obtained within the movement detection time; and apointing information generating step of generating the pointinginformation having the calculated movement value.
 30. The methodaccording to claim 29, wherein the pointing information generating stepfurther comprises: a movement correction value setting step of setting amovement correction value on the basis of a relationship between thefirst pressure pads disposed on both ends of the user input unit; and amovement value correction step of correcting the calculated movementvalue using the movement correction value, when the calculated movementvalue is larger than a movement limit value.
 31. The method according toclaim 28, further comprising: a pressure data generating step ofperiodically generating second pressure data having a valuecorresponding to impedance of each of the second pressure pads; and astep of generating setting information corresponding to second pressuredata having a different value from the previous value and the secondpressure pad having the pressure data, when the newly obtained secondpressure data is different from the previously obtained second pressuredata.
 32. The input device for a content providing device according toclaim 5, wherein the pressure sensor further comprises: the secondpressure pads disposed on the keypad; and a plurality of second pressuredata generators respectively corresponding to the second pressure pads,and generating second pressure data having a value corresponding to theimpedance of each of the second pressure pads.
 33. The content providingdevice according to claim 14, wherein the pressure sensor furthercomprises: the second pressure pads disposed on the user input unit; anda plurality of second pressure data generators respectivelycorresponding to the second pressure pads, and generating secondpressure data having a value corresponding to the impedance of each ofthe second pressure pads.